Phlebitis
Phlebitis | |
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The popliteal vein. | |
ICD-10 | I80 |
ICD-9 | 451 |
DiseasesDB | 13043 |
eMedicine | emerg/581 emerg/582 med/3201 |
MeSH | D010689 |
Cardiology Network |
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Adult Congenital |
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Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs.
When phlebitis is associated with the formation of blood clots (thrombosis), usually in the deep veins of the legs, the condition is called thrombophlebitis.
Etiology
- Bacterial: Pathogenic organisms can gain access and stimulate inflammation.
- Chemical: caused by irritating or vesicant solutions.
- Mechanical: physical trauma from the skin puncture and movement of the cannula into the vein during insertion; any subsequent manipulation and movement of the cannula; clotting; or excessively large cannula.
- Medications including Celebrex, antidepressants, and others.
- Lupus
- Genetic as it is known to run in families.
Signs and Symptoms
- Redness (erythema) and warmth with a temperature elevation of a degree or more above the baseline
- Pain or burning along the length of the vein
- Swelling (edema)
- Vein being hard, and cordlike
Treatment
- Antibiotics if there is evidence of a cellulitis
- Elevation
- If occurring due to an intravenous infusion line, then slowed infusion rate
See also
References
Intravenous Infusion Therapy for Nurses (Second Edition) by Dianne L. Josephson (ISBN 1-4018-0935-9)
External links
- Phlebitis at MotherNature.com
- eMedicine Health: Phlebitis provides an overview of phlebitis and its causes, symptoms, and treatment.